About Callie James:
I spent the first three decades of my life in Portland, Oregon, before picking up everything and moving to the South for much needed sunshine and a change of pace.
When I’m not reading or penning young adult novels, I’m absorbed in all things supernatural, fantasy and sci-fi. Most recently, I’ve become hopelessly addicted to the BBC and anime.
My husband and I are also very devoted to our numerous adopted animals.
What inspires you to write?
I’m mainly influenced by personal experiences and people who have had a profound effect on me.
Specific books do inspire me. Anything that really hits home, I guess. Very often what hits home for me isn’t the big seller. These are a few exceptions (some old, some new): Little Witch by Anna Elizabeth Bennett, Forever by Judy Blume, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, Divergent by Veronica Roth …among the most recent. There are just too many to count. My tastes are eclectic, which makes it difficult to keep up. So many good stories. So little time.
Tell us about your writing process.
It starts with an idea that won’t leave me alone. Eventually my mind conjures up various scenes that lead to a beginning and middle. That’s when I start writing. I generally write by the seat of my pants using little more than a mental outline. I DO keep a book bible to document characters’ ages, hair color, siblings, etc., so I can keep it all straight. Very often I won’t allow myself to think of an ending, which makes it easier to write when I hit that point (I’m still invested in the characters because I don’t know what’s going to happen either!). Next is the not-so-fun part of editing, which is when I get analytical and start breaking down the scenes.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I wouldn’t say I listen or talk to my characters. They develop their own personalities and voices, and usually by the third chapter, I’m simply the typist with a few ideas.
What advice would you give other writers?
#1 piece of advice: WRITE FOR YOU AND WRITE WHAT YOU LOVE.
Don’t give up when the biz gets hard or reviewers get mean. Keep learning and honing your craft. And above all else, keep writing. With every book, you will get better.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I wouldn’t advise new authors to go either way. I think it depends on their goals. If you want to see your book in a bookstore, obviously self-publishing isn’t the way to go. If you want to get rich, I would advise against pursuing publishing at all.
I did not come by my decision to self-publish easily and blogged about that here.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think we’ve hit a saturation point, and books now more than ever have to be solid, quality books to stand up against the thousands of books published every day.
What genres do you write?: Young Adult Romance and Young Adult Paranormal
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Callie James Home Page Link
Link To Callie James Page On Amazon
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